Tobacco advertising ban in Australia – Fact sheet 252

International background

The connection between cigarette smoking and lung cancer was already evident by the 1920s. It was, however, in the middle decades of the twentieth century that evidence of the links became more widely known and accepted.

The influential British Medical Journal published results of a study in 1950, and in 1956 the first report of the British Doctors Study, a study of some 34 000 doctors, linked smoking to both lung cancer and coronary thrombosis. The United States (US) Surgeon-General announced in 1964 that smoking caused lung cancer. In 1965 cigarette advertising on United Kingdom (UK) television was banned, and health warning labels became compulsory on US cigarette packets.

Tobacco advertising in Australia

The Australian Government had supported the tobacco industry through preferential tariffs since 1901, and since 1955 more directly through a research body, the Central Tobacco Advisory Committee (CA 407). Adopting a staged approach, the Menzies government introduced a voluntary tobacco advertising code for television in 1966.

In 1971 the advertising code was strengthened and extended to radio. By this time both the UK and US had banned cigarette advertising on radio and television. In 1972 the McMahon government introduced mandatory health warnings for radio and television tobacco advertisements.

The move to a ban on tobacco advertising

In 1973 the Whitlam government decided to phase out tobacco advertising. The change in government in 1975 meant the Fraser ministry faced a decision on whether to implement or delay the total ban. In a submission to Federal Cabinet, Health Minister Ralph Hunt outlined the medical evidence against smoking and its financial and health costs to the community.

In an opposing Cabinet submission, Post and Telecommunications Minister Eric Robinson argued that the government needed more time to evaluate the issues and to hear from interested parties. Supported by the Department of Primary Industry and the Department of Industry and Commerce, he endorsed the tobacco, broadcasting and advertising industries.

Despite Robinson's arguments Cabinet determined to continue with the ban and it came into effect on 1 September 1976.

Record holdings

The National Archives holds numerous records relating to the tobacco industry and the lead-up to the ban on tobacco advertising. The table below lists a selection of these records and includes correspondence files, policy files, reports and Cabinet Office files.

How to find more information

Search the collection to find more records, including those on the anti-smoking campaign and individual Cabinet submissions and decisions. Searches using keywords such as ‘tobacco’, ‘smoking’, or ‘cigarette’ will find relevant records.